50pc work on pre-paid power meters done

Work on the installation of pre-paid electric meters, replacing old ones, is progressing in full swing, creating a sense of satisfaction among consumers in the Chandpur district town.

So far, 50 per cent of the work has been completed. At present, consumers do not have to pay any charge for the installation of the pre-paid meters. After the installation, the cost of the meter is added to the monthly electric bills at Tk 40 per month and is to be spread over a period of eight years.

This was stated by the executive engineer of the Power Development Board, Chandpur, S M Iqbal, in an exclusive interview with this correspondent.

He said, “As per the government’s decision, taken on May 7 last year, pre-paid electric meters have to be installed all over the country, replacing the old electric meters.”

As a part of that plan, the pre-paid electric meters (made in China) are being installed in all houses, shops, and government and non-government offices in Chandpur district town replacing the old ones.

He added, “The main purpose of installing this pre-meter is to reduce load shedding, remove illegal power connections, prevent theft/pilferage of power, and do away with fabricated power bills, which had been a long-standing complaint of the consumers. The meters will also save power by cutting excess use or wastage, thus helping the electrification of houses without electric connections locally and nationally.”

The installation of pre-paid meters started in early October last year and the work has been progressing without any hitch since then.

A total of 20 teams are working to install these new, pre-paid meters.

So far, about 50 per cent or about 25,000 consumers out of a total 51,000 have been brought under the network of these new, pre-paid meters, replacing the old electric meters in the town.

Executive engineer of Chandpur’s PDB unit S M Iqbal expects the work to be over by April this year.

Official sources say, at present, there are a total of 51,000 power consumers in the municipal and adjacent areas of the district town. Of them, 43,700 are residential connections, 6,780 commercial connections and Mosques and temples account for 466 connections.

Power bills amounting to Tk 22 crore have been long lying outstanding with the Chandpur Paurasava, government offices, and other organizations.

Drives were on to realize these outstanding bills, added the executive engineer.

He said, initially, people were against the installation of this meter in their houses, shops and mills and factories, as they were unaware of their advantages.

But an awareness campaign conducted daily dispelled the misconceptions. So, the consumers were now showing a keen interest to use this meter to get rid of excess or fake billing.

Contacted, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Chandpur District Unit President Jiban Kanai Chakrovorty, said, “I am satisfied with this meter, as there is no fake or imaginary bill.”

Traders Anwar Parvej and Alhaj Md Hanif, owner of flats Dider Hossain, housewives Tahmina Begum and several others said, “We are now happy with new pre-paid power meters, as there is no excess or fake billing anymore.”

They added, “We are also careful about any misuse of electricity at home. Pre-paid meters ought to have been installed a few years ago,’’ they said.

The executive engineer said arrangements were being made to recharge pre-paid meters through local bank branches or mobile banking systems for the convenience of consumers.

He hinted that pre–paid electric meters would also be installed soon in the Upazila Sadars and rural areas under Palli Biddutayon Board’.

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50pc work on pre-paid power meters done

Consumers welcome move

OUR CORRESPONDENT, Chandpur

Work on the installation of pre-paid electric meters, replacing old ones, is progressing in full swing, creating a sense of satisfaction among consumers in the Chandpur district town.
So far, 50 per cent of the work has been completed. At present, consumers do not have to pay any charge for the installation of the pre-paid meters. After the installation, the cost of the meter is added to the monthly electric bills at Tk 40 per month and is to be spread over a period of eight years.
This was stated by the executive engineer of the Power Development Board, Chandpur, S M Iqbal, in an exclusive interview with this correspondent.
He said, As per the governments decision, taken on May 7 last year, pre-paid electric meters have to be installed all over the country, replacing the old electric meters.
As a part of that plan, the pre-paid electric meters (made in China) are being installed in all houses, shops, and government and non-government offices in Chandpur district town replacing the old ones.
He added, The main purpose of installing this pre-meter is to reduce load shedding, remove illegal power connections, prevent theft/pilferage of power, and do away with fabricated power bills, which had been a long-standing complaint of the consumers. The meters will also save power by cutting excess use or wastage, thus helping the electrification of houses without electric connections locally and nationally.
The installation of pre-paid meters started in early October last year and the work has been progressing without any hitch since then.
A total of 20 teams are working to install these new, pre-paid meters.
So far, about 50 per cent or about 25,000 consumers out of a total 51,000 have been brought under the network of these new, pre-paid meters, replacing the old electric meters in the town.
Executive engineer of Chandpurs PDB unit S M Iqbal expects the work to be over by April this year.
Official sources say, at present, there are a total of 51,000 power consumers in the municipal and adjacent areas of the district town. Of them, 43,700 are residential connections, 6,780 commercial connections and Mosques and temples account for 466 connections.
Power bills amounting to Tk 22 crore have been long lying outstanding with the Chandpur Paurasava, government offices, and other organizations.
Drives were on to realize these outstanding bills, added the executive engineer.
He said, initially, people were against the installation of this meter in their houses, shops and mills and factories, as they were unaware of their advantages.
But an awareness campaign conducted daily dispelled the misconceptions. So, the consumers were now showing a keen interest to use this meter to get rid of excess or fake billing.
Contacted, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Chandpur District Unit President Jiban Kanai Chakrovorty, said, I am satisfied with this meter, as there is no fake or imaginary bill.
Traders Anwar Parvej and Alhaj Md Hanif, owner of flats Dider Hossain, housewives Tahmina Begum and several others said, We are now happy with new pre-paid power meters, as there is no excess or fake billing anymore.
They added, We are also careful about any misuse of electricity at home. Pre-paid meters ought to have been installed a few years ago, they said.
The executive engineer said arrangements were being made to recharge pre-paid meters through local bank branches or mobile banking systems for the convenience of consumers.
He hinted that prepaid electric meters would also be installed soon in the Upazila Sadars and rural areas under Palli Biddutayon Board.

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